Okolona native to release inspirational jazz album

There’s gospel, there’s jazz, and then there’s inspirational jazz.
That’s Kimberly Adair’s kind of music.
The Okolona native is releasing her debut album, “Voice of My Soul,” next weekend, and it’s full of her own genre of music.
“I think I made it up,” Adair said, laughing.
The music is jazzy and improvisational, but the lyrics are full of faith and love.
“That’s the great part of performing live: it’s like a canvas, you can pretty much paint whatever you want with your music and take it wherever you want to go,” she said. “(I write) about life experiences and things that I’ve observed in every day life.”
Adair, 35, is now based out of Williamsport, Penn., where she teaches music lessons. But her love for music started early in her hometown of Okolona, where she sang in the church as a child and began taking piano lessons at 7.
She moved to Memphis for 10 years, and in the Bluff City she began her first steps toward recording “Voice of My Soul.” It wasn’t until she moved to Pennsylvania that she was able to complete the record.
Seven of the tracks on the CD are originals written by Adair, and there are a few traditionals like “Amazing Grace.”
She’ll perform at her CD release party next week in Okolona.
“We’ll be performing songs from the CD, as well as some of my favorite gospel songs, and we’ll do a tribute to Whitney Houston,” Adair said.
The singer is already working on her next album.
“I’m actually still writing – I never stop,” she said. “I have a lot of good ideas for the next one, but right now my main focus is promoting this one and working toward the next one.”
Right now, she’s ready to present to the world “Voice of My Soul” – an album release that feels, to her, like she’s giving birth to a child.
“It feels like I’m packing up a diaper bag when I’m packing up for a show,” she said, laughing. “That’s exactly what it feels like.”
sheena.barnett@journalinc.com